Discussions By Condition: Ears, Nose, Mouth & Throat conditions

Chronic throat clearing... Not allergies

I have gone to several doctors for this, including an ENT and none of them can tell me whats wrong. They all just tell me its allergies and give me a nasal allergy medicine (which makes it worse).

Here are my symptoms:-Symptoms have been consistent since may '06-I regularly feel like I have to clear fluid from my trachea.-Happens everyday, but not all day long.-Happens more when I eat.-Need to clear throat is less if I am thirsty (cotton mouth)-Need to clear is greater with foods that make me salivate (spicy, sour)-Doesn't happen when I am laying down (night or early morning)-Seasons dont affect it-Only allergy is to cats, which I am never around. No pollens, etc.

Background:-This has been a problem for about a year and a half now. I had pharyngitis (sp?) and lost my voice. my doctor gave me antibiotics to clear up the infection, but my voice never came back. After ~6 wks he gave me a steroid inhaler to heal the swelling around my vocal cords. I apparently have always cleared my throat more than the usual person, but these symptoms I have now are significantly more noticeable than anything I had before. It gets to the point now that I actually hyperventalate from clearing my throat too much, making me dizzy.

ENT:Took a look at my vocal cords and said that one doesn't move as much as the other, and the more active one compensates by coming over further. Not sure if he thought that was a result or a cause???

Personal Diagnosis:No doctor here, but it seems that my epiglottis is allowing fluid to drain into my trachea and onto my vocal cords, making me feel the need to clear my throat. I dont know if it is sopposed to block this sort of thing, but it seems obvious to me that it is just saliva going into my trachea that is causing the issue, since it happens more when I am eating and not at all when I am laying down.

If anybody can help I greatly appreciate it. This is not only a nuisance to me and my family, but it is beginning to make me worry that there may be a more serious problem.

16 Replies:

This is going to sound crazy! But I am gonna tell you, because I wish I had found this info 10 years ago when I was misdiagnosed with Acid reflux.Antibiotics mess up the Pancreas. All of that fluid that you have to clear, probably is produced by your pancreas inbalance.Spicy food is great for people with weak pancreas...I am guessing you have the opposite problem- your pancreas is irritated. Laying back can debilitate a weak pancreas, but it just calms yours because your pancreas is hyper.There might be periods in which the pancreas swing to one extreme or the other. Acoording to Chinese Medicine Theory, Pancreas 'excess' can trigger allergies. But allergies are a 'symptom', not the root problem, and certainly not the last you are going to deal with.Visit a doctor of Oriental Medicine. It is a hard sell, but if I could only travel in time...I would have never taken all those antibiotics, acid reflux medicine, pain killers, and benadryl.*****************RA, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, Crohn's arthritis, fibromylagia, and SLE are all types of impediment conditions due to complicated yin fire scenarios. MS is a wilting condition (wei zheng) due to the same basic disease mechanisms minus the impediment patterns. Most autoimmune sufferers have a history of one or more allergies. They often have histories of antibiotic use, which has damaged the spleen. In China today, a popular topic for Chinese medical journal articles is post-antibiotic spleen qi vacuity or intestinal dysbiosis due to spleen qi vacuity in turn due to antibiotics. In such cases, the spleen qi has been damaged and this results in dampness, while dampness transforms into damp heat. We have discussed some of the most important causes of spleen qi vacuity in a previous essay. In the West, these have to include faulty diet, too much thinking, too much worry and anxiety, not enough exercise, and too much work, and usually there are some or all of these in significant amounts in allergy and autoimmune patients. http://www.bluepoppy.com/press/download/articles/autoimmune.cfmby the way, Spleen is Pancreas.Dampness is all that drip that you need to keep clearing.Fruity.

Hi, No expert here. You may want to see a speech language pathologist to check your symptoms out... or have another ENT evaluate you. Dysphagia -Difficulty swallowing Some symptoms include drooling, impaired chewing, diffculty initiating swallowing, nasal regurgitation, coughing and choking, food sticking to the throat, throat clearing and wet voice, ,and food getting stuck in the area in front of the teeth and behind the lips (sulci) Did you have layrngitist or phayrngitist? Because I don't think you can lose your voice with pharyngitis. Unless you had both. If you look in your mouth and the wall straight back that's part of the pharynx. And the layrnx is lower down the neck. You can feel your throat and swallow and the thing that moves is the larynx. The vocal cords are housed here. As to your vocal folds- have you had a stroke or brain damage? (Don't have to answer here) If you had, this might be the cause of one of the vocal folds working more to compensate for the other.If you had, then this might be a cause of your difficulty swallowing. Epiglottis- it's role is to block things from entering the air way. But it isn't like a seal, so it doesn't get everything. Hope that helps

Regarding the first post on this forum by lNlPidge.I have the same symptoms since one night when i smoked alot of cigarettes, i went to hospital because my throat was blocked with something that keeps coming and going up and down my thoat, just under my chin, it wasnt life threatening but i couldnt breath properly through my nose, i am a nose breather when i sleep.It is now 8 months and it comes on and off as per the following patterns:- After eating- If i tilt my head forward (facing downwards)- during workout, especially when facing downwards- smoking doesnt increase it, in fact it makes the throat dry and reduces it- feeling of something in my thorat, just under the chin, when i clear my throat i feel something going up and my swallowing becomes better but only until i feel it coming back again- I dont feel it when i wake up from sleep, i sleep on my side or backENT doctors said its an acid reflux, i think it has something to do with pharyngitis.I am seeing doctors all the time to find an answer, if you have the same symptoms and want to share the experience, please email me on: mohammed.sami@workz.ae

Im dealing with simlar symptoms, plus a sensation that my throat is swelling in the area where you would get some post-nasal drip - they thinkn it mya be acid reflux - try this linkhttp://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/news/less_known_reflux_affects_throat.htmI have gone to several doctors for this, including an ENT and none of them can tell me whats wrong. They all just tell me its allergies and give me a nasal allergy medicine (which makes it worse). Here are my symptoms:-Symptoms have been consistent since may '06-I regularly feel like I have to clear fluid from my trachea.-Happens everyday, but not all day long.-Happens more when I eat.-Need to clear throat is less if I am thirsty (cotton mouth)-Need to clear is greater with foods that make me salivate (spicy, sour)-Doesn't happen when I am laying down (night or early morning)-Seasons dont affect it-Only allergy is to cats, which I am never around. No pollens, etc.Background:-This has been a problem for about a year and a half now. I had pharyngitis (sp?) and lost my voice. my doctor gave me antibiotics to clear up the infection, but my voice never came back. After ~6 wks he gave me a steroid inhaler to heal the swelling around my vocal cords. I apparently have always cleared my throat more than the usual person, but these symptoms I have now are significantly more noticeable than anything I had before. It gets to the point now that I actually hyperventalate from clearing my throat too much, making me dizzy.ENT:Took a look at my vocal cords and said that one doesn't move as much as the other, and the more active one compensates by coming over further. Not sure if he thought that was a result or a cause???Personal Diagnosis:No doctor here, but it seems that my epiglottis is allowing fluid to drain into my trachea and onto my vocal cords, making me feel the need to clear my throat. I dont know if it is sopposed to block this sort of thing, but it seems obvious to me that it is just saliva going into my trachea that is causing the issue, since it happens more when I am eating and not at all when I am laying down.If anybody can help I greatly appreciate it. This is not only a nuisance to me and my family, but it is beginning to make me worry that there may be a more serious problem.Thanks,lNl

Hye - I had problems for 3 years including - what doctors thought - post nasal drip. I was mis-diagnosed with allergies for 3 years and was on steroid inhalers etc. Went to an allergist who told me I was low in iodine. Went back to docs and asked for blood test (which they hadn't done in the whole 3 yrs!) turns out I have underactive thyroid.One of the symptons of this is that you clear your throat - something to do with the thyroid gland -which is in your neck - being swollen.Something for you to consider. Good luck - finding out what it is - it took me 3 years but I am so so much better now.

i dunno about acid reflux n all that. i had the same problem when i was younger for about a year. i was only about 10. no one knew what it was. it wasn't painful or anything -just annoying. but it went away...

What about chronic sinusitis.It involves post nasal drip, where the sputum accumulates at the back of your throat, causing you to get the urge to clear it. Might be the case but I think your Dr or ENT specialist should have covered and ruled it out as it is quite common.

Hi, I,ve had a problem with excess fluid which I have had for two years now. It started with a cough and then developed from there. My fluid is constantly there but every few months gets worst and antibiotics help slightly. My symptoms include: difficulty swallowing with certain foods getting stuck in my throat, if I lie face down when I sleep I get a blocked nose and my ears are some times wet in the morning. I also lose my voice first thing in the morning and cough constantly. I also suffer from my face and throat swelling. At the moment I have a swollen throat with white blotches on my soft palete which is making me breathless and causing a restriction. I have been to ENT and had an endoscope which does confirm I have reflux however I know the difference and I know that not what this is. My doctor does not have a clue and is now senting me for allergy testing and a speak and language assessment. I am 37 years old.

I have had chronic throat clearing issues for the past 8 years and until recently doctors did not take me seriously... I was finally sent to an ENT doctor 8 mos ago, she did a scope and said I had mucus specks in the back of my throat. Had me start prilosec OTC- this did not relieve the issue at all.I went back and still had the specks.My PCP then sent me to a GI doctor who did an Endoscopy 4 weeks ago and said I did not have the H Pylori bacteria in my stomach and everything looked 'good' - I am still waiting to get the writeup on what they saw/didn't see and what the biopsies were tested for (they took 2). I am taking Protonix and have been for 4 or so months. Most days are a lot better than they used to be but some days are not excellent and the past few days have been ***l. My throat kills and I can't stop the clearing.I am afraid the effects of the 40 mg protonix a day are wearing off but am hoping that is not the case. I did smoke and quit in December but I had smoked for 13 years... I am always worried I messed up my throat from that crap. I can not explain how frustrating this feeling/situation has been. I am sorry for any others who have to experience it as well.

Hi, I'm not sure if my experience is the same or related, but I have had the constant clearing of my throat for the past 17 years. I've lost count how many people have told me that "it's a nervous cough". I keep telling them, that if it was a nervous cough, then there would be nothing to clear in my throat. Every couple of minutes I have to clear my throat, and most often than not I can't clear it with one simple cough, and sometimes it is really quite sore to get it cleared. About 11 years ago I had an endoscopy and the camera thingy up my nose and down to my throat, but all they told me to do was gargle with soluble aspirin as my throat was a bit inflamed. I did this for a few months, but it had no effect. Now this is the bit that annoys me. In 1996 I went to Australia to stay with my sister and relatives for 2 months (I live in the UK) during May and June. After being there for 2 weeks, my cough was completely gone. I pointed this out to my parents and my sister, and they all suggested that it must be to do with the climate. So for the next 6 weeks I had no cough, and it was great. However, once I was back in the UK, just 1 week later my cough came back. I am not allergic to anything as far as the ENT consultant is aware of, so all I can put it down to is the climate. Although, if it is that, I don't know why it just started when I was 19 (I'm now 36). Anyway, I hope this may give some clues as to why others have the same problem. I just wish I could get rid of it.

I haven't check on this probelm in years and am dissapointed that there is nothing new.I am a singer and the only thing that clears it for me are Papaya/Pineapple chewable enzym products but be carfull; eating too many may give you diarrhea.

I have gone to several doctors for this, including an ENT and none of them can tell me whats wrong. They all just tell me its allergies and give me a nasal allergy medicine (which makes it worse). Here are my symptoms:-Symptoms have been consistent since may '06-I regularly feel like I have to clear fluid from my trachea.-Happens everyday, but not all day long.-Happens more when I eat.-Need to clear throat is less if I am thirsty (cotton mouth)-Need to clear is greater with foods that make me salivate (spicy, sour)-Doesn't happen when I am laying down (night or early morning)-Seasons dont affect it-Only allergy is to cats, which I am never around. No pollens, etc.Background:-This has been a problem for about a year and a half now. I had pharyngitis (sp?) and lost my voice. my doctor gave me antibiotics to clear up the infection, but my voice never came back. After ~6 wks he gave me a steroid inhaler to heal the swelling around my vocal cords. I apparently have always cleared my throat more than the usual person, but these symptoms I have now are significantly more noticeable than anything I had before. It gets to the point now that I actually hyperventalate from clearing my throat too much, making me dizzy.ENT:Took a look at my vocal cords and said that one doesn't move as much as the other, and the more active one compensates by coming over further. Not sure if he thought that was a result or a cause???Personal Diagnosis:No doctor here, but it seems that my epiglottis is allowing fluid to drain into my trachea and onto my vocal cords, making me feel the need to clear my throat. I dont know if it is sopposed to block this sort of thing, but it seems obvious to me that it is just saliva going into my trachea that is causing the issue, since it happens more when I am eating and not at all when I am laying down.If anybody can help I greatly appreciate it. This is not only a nuisance to me and my family, but it is beginning to make me worry that there may be a more serious problem.Thanks,lNlI have the EXACT same symptoms - have had it for years and I'm 38. My doctor told me I had post nasal drip but the meds they gave me didn't work at all. I'm excited about this forum, will definitely get some blood tests to test my thyroid. If you find out the correct diagnosis, let us all know please!Thanks

I work in a neurology clinic and I am no specialist; however, demand that a full blood work be ran because in 5 years of having seen patients come through, I have noticed a commonality among those suffering from underactive thyroid disease and parkinson's disease and that is a constant throat clearing and/or the need to 'lougie' or something of a feeling of sinus drainage with no allergy confirmation. Sometimes a cough is present, but always the throat clearing need.

I have gone to several doctors for this, including an ENT and none of them can tell me whats wrong. They all just tell me its allergies and give me a nasal allergy medicine (which makes it worse). Here are my symptoms:-Symptoms have been consistent since may '06-I regularly feel like I have to clear fluid from my trachea.-Happens everyday, but not all day long.-Happens more when I eat.-Need to clear throat is less if I am thirsty (cotton mouth)-Need to clear is greater with foods that make me salivate (spicy, sour)-Doesn't happen when I am laying down (night or early morning)-Seasons dont affect it-Only allergy is to cats, which I am never around. No pollens, etc.Background:-This has been a problem for about a year and a half now. I had pharyngitis (sp?) and lost my voice. my doctor gave me antibiotics to clear up the infection, but my voice never came back. After ~6 wks he gave me a steroid inhaler to heal the swelling around my vocal cords. I apparently have always cleared my throat more than the usual person, but these symptoms I have now are significantly more noticeable than anything I had before. It gets to the point now that I actually hyperventalate from clearing my throat too much, making me dizzy.ENT:Took a look at my vocal cords and said that one doesn't move as much as the other, and the more active one compensates by coming over further. Not sure if he thought that was a result or a cause???Personal Diagnosis:No doctor here, but it seems that my epiglottis is allowing fluid to drain into my trachea and onto my vocal cords, making me feel the need to clear my throat. I dont know if it is sopposed to block this sort of thing, but it seems obvious to me that it is just saliva going into my trachea that is causing the issue, since it happens more when I am eating and not at all when I am laying down.If anybody can help I greatly appreciate it. This is not only a nuisance to me and my family, but it is beginning to make me worry that there may be a more serious problem.Thanks,lNlI have the same problem and I have just talked to a knowlegable person, who says you can have a breath test. He regularly treats people who get some kind of bug or bacteria from drinking water. Then there is a one week treatment and you never get this again. Remember if your water is good, you may have travelled or had a drink somewhere else. I can't wait to ask my doctor about this! I had a day surgery and came out sick and have had there cough ever since. I wondered if I got it from the tube they put down your throat. But feels more like my body is producing so much that I can't swallow it. And I think the choking comes from the slightest little speck of something because my throat is never clear. Just wanted to pass the info on. You can also get some kind of unltra sound on your throat as well, which can show up problems. I'm not registered yet so can't get a response, but will check back here. Good luck.

i dunno about acid reflux n all that. i had the same problem when i was younger for about a year. i was only about 10. no one knew what it was. it wasn't painful or anything -just annoying. but it went away...I am having the same problem with my son.. He is also 10 , I feel so bad for him I have taken him to 2 doctors and lots of meds but no change...